Lads hit for six

Reading U18s 6-1 Rovers U18s

It was an afternoon to forget for Rovers' Under-18s on Saturday as they were walloped 6-1 by Reading.

When the two sides met at Brockhall back in September Rovers were no match for Reading that day in a 3-1 loss, and it was the same once more with a poor display from Terry McPhillips' side.

The game could have been different had Curtis Haley not seen a 14th minute penalty saved. The Rovers striker had been felled in the box and took the responsibility from 12 yards but his effort was saved low to the 'keeper's left.

To make matters worse the home side went straight up the other end and opened the scoring when the Reading number 9 got in behind Ryan Thompson and fired past goalkeeper David Raya.

Three minutes later the Royals had a spot-kick of their own. David Raya fortunate to only receive a yellow card after bringing down the Reading attacker. It was converted without fuss to put Reading 2-0 up.

On 40 minutes it was 3-0 as Reading were awarded their second penalty of the game, Bradley Ware the culprit with a clumsy challenge in the box.

Five minutes after the restart the Royals scored once more. Again poor defending proved costly and was ruthlessly seized upon.

The Reading number 9 grabbed his hat-trick with 13 minutes to go with a deflected shot before a fourth penalty was awarded after Rovers defender Ryan Thompson's rash challenge.

Again Reading made no mistake from the spot.

Five minutes from time Rovers grabbed a consolation goal, Curtis Haley controlling the ball well on the edge of the box before lashing home.

"It was the worst performance I've ever been involved with," said Terry McPhillips. "We just didn't compete and paid the consequences.

"Reading are as a good a team as I've seen at this level but we were uncompetitive and very disappointing. The scoreline didn't flatter them, it was about right."